In today's digital world, everyone is constantly bombarded with messages vying for their attention. As marketers, finding the optimal time to send an email can make all the difference in whether your message gets read or lost in the noise. But is there really a "best" time to send marketing emails? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.
It’s easy to assume that there’s a magical time when emails are most effective. However, the reality is that timing depends more on what else is competing for your customer's attention than on the time itself. If your email arrives when someone is in the middle of work, watching their favorite show, or spending time with family, the chances of them engaging with it drop significantly.
In general, you want to avoid sending emails during:
So, when should you send emails?
Morning hours, specifically between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., tend to be the best for many industries. This is the time when people are getting ready for their day or just starting work, and they’re more likely to scan their inbox. Similarly, lunch hours can be effective, as people may take a break from their busy day and catch up on personal tasks—including checking their email.
The best time to send an email can vary depending on your specific business and customer base. For example:
The key takeaway is that there's no universal "best" time. It depends on your industry and when your customers are most likely to be receptive.
Given the variety of factors at play, it’s important to experiment. One way to do this is by splitting your email list into groups and sending emails at different times to see which generates the highest engagement. You may find that certain segments of your audience respond better to early morning emails, while others engage more during lunch breaks.
While testing time windows is a good start, nothing beats understanding the individual schedules of your customers. If your business has data on job activities or other signals that can indicate a customer’s daily routine, use that to tailor your email delivery times. Knowing when a particular customer is most likely to engage can make all the difference in your open and click rates.
Ultimately, the best time of day to send marketing emails differs from business to business. While early morning and lunchtime are generally good bets, the real key is to avoid competing with work and leisure activities. A combination of industry-specific insights, experimentation, and personalized scheduling will give you the best chance at reaching your audience when they’re most receptive.
TruAgents offers a cutting-edge ad-tech platform that empowers businesses to create agent-based campaigns, enabling human-like, autonomous, two-way communication with customers. With TruAgents, you can take email marketing beyond timing by delivering deeply personalized interactions.